Pain Management

Cervicogenic headaches

10/29/2009

Question:

Hi

I have been diagnoised with cervicogenic headaches by my neruologist, i was told to get physio done and had to take trepiline for a while. I now have severe upper back pain, especially when i bend my head foward or push it backward there seems to be a pull on the spine with an extreme amount of pain. my physio advised i could have a combination of migranes and cervicogenic headaches reason being i get all symptoms of migranes, nausia, vomiting, weak, brightness effects me at times, and at times i get muscle tightness and swelling on my upper back and neck and i cant do anything.

I am still experincing alot of pain when my bursts of headaches come along as i have no social life when this happens and it is very unpredictable. i need to know if i am doing anything wrong, or not doing anything at all.

Please help.

Thank you

Answer:

One of the diagnostic criteria of cervicogenic headache is relief of the headache with a nerve block. An MRI of the cervical spine and evaluation by a Pain Medicine specialist who is comfortable with managing head and neck pain may be appropriate.

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